30. What is spastic paraplegia
Involvement of spinal cord and cerebrum produce spastic UMN paraplegia.
Has two types
Paraplegia in flexion and paraplegia in extension.
31. What is Cerebral Paraplegia
The lower limbs and bladder (micturition centre)are represented in
paracentral lobule, leisions in this area produce paraplegia with bladder
disturbance-eg retension urine and cortical type of sensory loss.may b
associated with headache,vomiting and fits.
Causes are
cerebral diplegia
superior sagital sinus thrombosis
Parasagital meningioma
Thrombosis of unpaired anterior cerebral artery
Gunshot injury of this area
Internal hydrocephalus
34. Differences
Etramedullary
Root pain---common
UMN signs –early
Sensory deficit—contralateral loss
of pain and temp with ipsilateral
loss of proprioception
Sacral sparing-absent
Bowel bladder disturbances– early
Vertebral tenderness may be
present
CSF changes –froins syndrome
common
Intramedullary
Rare
Late
Dissociated sensory loss
Present
Late
Absent
Rare
35. Causes of spastic paraplegia
Non compressive causes
MND –amyotropic
lateral sclerosis
MS
Acute transverse myelitis
Subacute combined
degeneration of cord vit
12 def.
Lathyrism
Syringomyelia
Hereditory spastic
paraplegia
Tropical spastic
paraplegia
Radiation myelopathy
36. Flaccid paralysis
Flaccid paralysis means lower motor neuron paralysis resulting
from the disease of anterior horn cells,radicles,peripheral
nerves and muscles
Acute onset of UMN type of paralysis may present flaccid
instead of spastic paralysis due to shock.
44. Investigations
Routine blood tests
Urine test,also for
culture and sensitivity
Bllod chemistry eg
blood
urea,creatinine,electrolyt
es
X ray chest
Lymph node biopsy
CSF examination
CT scan,MRI
CT –Myelography
meniscus sign
intradural,brush sign
extradural,expansion
sign in syringomyelia
45. INVESTIGATIONS
► BLOOD ROUTINE EXAMINATION
ESR is elevated in inflammatory conditions
Blood film may show megaloblastic anemia in sub a/c combined
degeneration of spinal cord
CHEST X-RAY – To exclude TB, bronchogenic carcinoma or mediastinal
widening (lymphoma)
46. X-RAY SPINE (antero – posterior view and lateral view)
MAY SHOW-
o TB spine
o collapse or erosion of vertebrae
o Herniated intervertebral disc
o Metastatic deposits
o Fracture or dislocation of vertebra
47. CSF EXAMINATION
• Features of Froin’s loculation syndrome
o low pressure
o xanthochromia
o clot formation in standing
o high protein content
o positive Queckenstedt’s test
Inflammatory lesions cells and proteins are increased
In malignancy malignant cells may be present
48. MYELOGRAPHY
HELPS IN DETECTION OF LEVEL OF COMPRESSION
NOW A DAYS COMBINED CT MYELOGRAPHY IS
DONE
49. NERVE CONDUCTION STUDIES – to help in diagnosis
of neuropathies
► FUNDOSCOPY – for papilloedema due to intracranial
tumor of multiple sclerosis
► BONE SCAN – metastatic deposits and inflammatory
vertebral lesions are detected
► MISCELLANEOUS
muscle biopsy, muscle enzymes, blood for VDRL and
HIV tests (tests for non-compressive myelopathy)
50. MANAGEMENT
► NUTRITIOUS DIET– In an adult 3500
cal/day should be given
No necessity to put the patient
on Ryle’s tube
51. CARE FOR BLADDER, BOWEL AND TROPHIC
ULCERS
BLADDER : put self retaining catheter under aseptic conditions
a) change catheter at regular intervals(2-3 weeks)
b) bladder wash
c) help in bladder control by application of clip to drainage tube
d) routine urine examination and culture and sensitivity, antibiotics in UTI
52. BOWEL
1. Treatment of constipation is done by laxatives
2. Renal incontinence is difficult to treat
MUSCLE SPASMS are treated by diazepam, baclofen
(5mg,TDS,orally)
53. THE UNDERLYING CAUSE SHOULD BE TREATED
In TB spine : application of traction in early stage
later on plastic jacket applied for immobilization
Ant tuberculosis chemotherapy for 1 yr
TREATMENT OF CARCINOMA OR LYMPHOMA by
radiotherapy or chemotherapy
A/C TRANSVERSE MYELITIS : ACTH or corticosteroids
54. PHYSIOTHERAPY
• To obtain max. development of all those muscles in which voluntary power
remains
• Prevention of flexor contractures in lower limbs
• Passive movements are carried out in LL once or twice daily
• Later on arrangement of wheel chair, walking calipers done according to
necessity
55. SURGERY
• Drainage of cold abscess, fusion of vertebra, laminectomy for TB spine,
skin grafting for bed sore